Protective effects of prenatal choline supplementation on seizure-induced memory impairment

Choline is an essential nutrient for rats and humans, and its availability during fetal development has long-lasting cognitive effects (Blusztajn, 199 8). We investigated the effects of prenatal choline supplementation on memo ry deficits associated with status epilepticus. Pregnant rats received a co ntrol or choline-supplemented diet during days 11-17 of gestation. Male off spring [postnatal day 29 (P29)-32] were tested for their ability to find a platform in a water maze before and after administration of a convulsant do se of pilocarpine at P34. There were no differences between groups in water maze performance before the seizure. One week after status epilepticus (P4 1-P44), animals that had received the control diet prenatally had a drastic ally impaired performance in the water maze during the 4 d testing period, whereas prenatally choline-supplemented rats showed no impairment. Neither the seizures nor the prenatal availability of choline had any effect on hip pocampal choline acetyltransferase or acetylcholinesterase activities. This study demonstrates that prenatal choline supplementation can protect rats against memory deficits induced by status epilepticus.